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Monthly Archives : December 2008

Viacom Threatens to Pull MTV, Other Networks Off Time Warner Cable

Even with SpongeBob SquarePants in its corner, this is a tough time for Viacom to be picking a fight with one of its biggest distributors, Time Warner Cable. Unless an agreement is reached, Viacom tomorrow will pull its networks, including…

Nintendo to Start Wii Video Channel

Nintendo is planning a family-friendly video channel for its Wii gaming console, with a free service starting next year and a premium channel beginning in 2010, the New York Post reports. The free service would be available only in Japan…

Dick Clark Determined for New Year’s Eve

Dick Clark, who turned 79 last month, is determined to appear on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009” on ABC, a 3 ½ hour live program, the Associated Press reports, citing an emailed interview with Clark….

Michael Pitt Eyes Scorsese HBO Pilot

Michael Pitt is in negotiations to join the pilot of Martin Scorsese’s HBO drama pilot “Boardwalk Empire,” the Hollywood Reporter says. Pitt would star opposite Steve Buscemi, who plays a businessman who runs a liquor-distribution operation at the start of…

‘Hills’ Spinoffs in Slow Ratings Start

“The Hills” spinoff “The City” had a slow start, drawing 1.6 million total viewers at 10 p.m. Monday, compared the 2.6 million viewers who watched “The Hills” fourth-season finale last week, the Hollywood Reporter says. Still, “The City’s” numbers beat…

Subway Attacked by Domino’s

Domino’s has started an advertising campaign in which it claims to have beaten Subway in a taste test of the two chains’ sandwiches, Advertising Age reports. Domino’s is trying to reverse a drop in same-store sales by taking on Subway…

Cable One, KPHO Agree on Retrans

Cable One and KPHO CBS 5 in Phoenix reached a tentative retransmission consent agreement, Broadcasting & Cable reports. The agreement means that KPHO won’t be dropped from Cable One’s lineup tonight. Meanwhile, several retransmission negotiations are down to the wire,…

Speed Channel Licenses ‘Bullrun’

Speed Channel has licensed 10 episodes of Spike TV’s 2007 show “Bullrun,” Multichannel News reports. The show, based on an international car rally, will start Feb. 19 and be hosted by former pro wrestler Bill Goldberg. —Aimee Picchi

Sedgwick, Bacon Among Madoff Victims

Kyra Sedgwick and husband Kevin Bacon are among the victims of Bernard Madoff, whose investment firm was revealed to be a Ponzi scheme, the Associated Press reports. Allen Eichhorn, Bacon’s publicist, wouldn’t disclose how much the actors might have lost….

Cyrus Rings in Year at O.C. School

Miley Cyrus will stage a New Year’s Eve concert at Beckman High School in Irvine, Calif., after student Alison Kaprielian won an MTV-sponsored contest for her work on breast-cancer awareness, E! reports. MTV gave away tickets to the school’s students,…